Chute intake door or hopper



4, 1953 c. M. WILKINSON 2,647,695

in CHUTE INTAKE DOOR OR HOPPER Filed Nov. 16, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CLARENCE M. WILKINSON CQ'JZML (0% ATTORNEYS Aug. 4, 1953 c. M. WILKINSON CHUTE INTAKE DOOR OR HOPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1950 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 4, 1953 c. M. WILKINSON 2,647,605

CHUTE INTAKE DOOR OR HOPPER Filed Nov. 16, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR. CLARENCE M.WILKINSON cOwJQ wZW ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE CHUTE INTAKE DOOR R HOPPER Clarence M. Wilkinson, Akron, Ohio Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 196,034

Claims.

My invention relates to an intake door or hopper for rubbish or the like for use in combination with a chute or other receptacle, and, more particularly, to an assembly of interlocking doors for a rubbish intake hopper.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to provide a hopper door for receiving rubbish into a chute or other receptacle having spaced-apart doors forming an intermediate space with interlocking means whereby one door is closed while the other is opened so that no direct opening is afforded to cause back drafts between the outside and inside of the receptacle. However, all of such designs of which I am aware are subject to one or more of the following limitationsthey are bulky, employ a complicated interlocking linkage, are expensive to manufacture, difficult to install, or are not sufiiciently rugged to withstand the dirt and abuse to which they are subjected in use, and, thus, require constant maintenance care.

It is the general object of my invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difiiculties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of an improved chute intake hopper of the double interlocking door type which can be manufactured as a unit with a minimum of parts, and which is rugged and substantially foolproof in its construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a rubbish hopper, which is adapted to communicate with a chute or receptacle, having a baflie door which remains locked until the hopper door is completely closed, thereby insuring no back draft.

The aforesaid objects of my invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing an intake hopper for rubbish or the like in combination with a chute or other receptacle comprising a rectangular frame adapted to be mounted in a wall adjacent the chute, a hood secured to the inner edge of the frame and extending into the chute, a hopper door hingedly secured to the frame along the lower edge thereof, a baffle door hingedly secured along its upper edge to the hood in spaced-apart relation to the hopper door, means interlocking the doors and offset laterally therefrom and including a plate pivotally secured tothe hood and having slots diametrically opposed adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, manually operated means for rotating the cam plate, a crank arm secured to each door, a link pivotally secured to each crank arm and slidably engaging the slots in the cam plate, a spring urging the hopper door into closed position, and a iii locking link pivotally secured to the bafile door crank arm and releasably engaging the cam plate whereby the bafiie door is held locked against movement except by proper rotation of the cam plate.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of my invention taken substantially on line .I-I of Fig. 5 and showing the cam plate and its associated handle in the neutral position wherein both the hopper door and baffle door are closed;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the position of the cam plate and handle when the hopper door is open and the baffle door is closed;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional. view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the position of the cam plate and associated handle when the baffle door is open;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational View of my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the relative position of the handle and closure mechanism with the hopper door.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral I0 indicates generally the rubbish hopper assembly which is, in the usual application of the invention, mounted in an opening I2 through the wall It adjacent the chute 23. The assembly II) is supported by means of a rectangular frame I6 having an outwardly extending flange I8 which overlaps the wall I4 around the edge of the hole I2 and is secured in place as by a plurality of screws 20. A vertical bar or channel I9 (see Fig. 5) connects the top and bottom of the frame parallel to one side, the bar I9 dividing the frame into a door area and a control mechanism area. Riveted or otherwise secured to the inwardly extending flange of the frame I6 is a sheet metal hood 22 which extends from the door area of the frame as just described to the chute 23 or receptacle adjacent the back of the wall I4. More specifically, the hood 22 extends along the left side and top of the frame I6 and down along the bar I9. A molding 24 fits over and around the frame I6 to form a finished trim with the wall. The bottom 26 of the assembly I0 is welded or otherwise secured to the frame I6 at 28 between the bar I 9 and the left side of the frame and slopes inwardly and downwardly to direct the rubbish into the chute. The sides of the hood 22 are extended down and connect to the bottom 26,

ace/p as will be understood, to form a complete guide for any rubbish or other material being passed to the chute 23.

Journaled in holes at the bottom of the inturned flange of the rectangular frame i6 is the shaft 32, to which the hopper door 34 is securely fastened by welding or similar means. The hopper door 34, shown in its closed position in Fig. l, abuts alongits upper edge against an angle stop bracket 36.

Hingedly secured by means of a shaft 38 in bearings 40, supported by a pair of bars 42 welded to the frame i6, is the baffle door M. The supporting bars 42, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, are formed out of bar stock and are welded respectively to the rectangular frame I 6 and to the bar l9.

To provide manual operation and an interlocking connection between the hopper door 34 and the bafile door M, mechanism is provided in a-box43 mounted at the side of the hood 22 but within the frame it to the right of the'bar it. This mechanism includes a cam or plate 46, having 'a handle 4-8 secured thereto and projecting out through a slot 15 beyond the front of a cover plate-4'! for the mechanism area. The cam plate 46 is pivotally secured on a shaft 58 'journaled in bearings 52, one of which is supported'by a bar 53 mounted onthe frame it, and another being carried-by asec'ondbar iiiisecured to bar 19. Ad- 1;

jacent-theperipheral edge of the cam plate it and in diametrically opposed position are the arcuate slots-5Q- and "58 in which the bolts 58 and Si) are "slidably engaged to provide lost motion means as hereinafter described.

'Rig'idly'attached to the portion of the shaft extending into the box c3 and to one side of the hopper door34 is the "crank arm 62. A link ti l operatively connects the crank arm 62 with the cam plate ct. The link it is pivotally secured to the arm 62 at 66 by appropriate'ineans such as a-shoulder'bolt and associated threaded nut, and in slot 54 link 64 is similarly pivotedby bolt 58. In "the same manner, a crank arm 66 is rigidly secured adjacent the'end of the-shaft 38 carrying the baiile door i l, and is opcratively associatedwith the cam plate is through the link it pivotally secured 'to the crank arm by bolt means at "1'2 and to the cam plate by bolt 69.

'To urgethe hopper door 3 2- closed, a tension spring 74 is employed, secured at one end to the bolt "58 and anchored at the other end by means (ifan'a'djustable 'eye-boltlfi. The spring 718 also serves to counterbalance the weight of the hopper door 3'4. Eye-bolt it in turn is anchored to the frameby means of a bracket '18. The bracket '53 has a screw 79 with a lock-nut 3| threadably secured thereto for'providing a stop for the open position of the hopper door 34. The linkii 'i engages the end of the screw 59 when the hopper door is open, as shown in Fig. 2.

'To positively lock the baiile door M in closed position whenthe handle i8 is in neutral position or when the hopper door 3 3 is open, a locking'link 8E, pivotally secured to the crank arm 68, is'provided having a notch 82 which engages the shaft 58 under the action of gravity when the baiiie door Ml is'in closed position. To effect disengagement of the notch '32 from the shafts-i3 when it is desired to open the baffie door 34, a pin'84 secured to the cam plate '66 is so positioned that nsithe handle ld is pushed downwardly rotating the .cam plate '56, the pin 84 engages the lockingflink 3i! andi'movesitout of locking position.

iii

In operation, the handle 48 has three normal positions. The first, illustrated in Fig. 1, is the neutral position in which both the hopper door and baffie door are closed, and the locking link 80 is in engaging position to secure the baffie door 44 in closed position. When the handle 48 is moved upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, the cam plate 36 rotates through a clockwise angle, the end of the slot 54 engaging the bolt .58,.and .through link 84 operates the crank arm 262 ato =thereby open the hopper door 34 against the action of the spring id. The baifie door it remains closed and looked as the bolt iii) slides in the slot 55 and the pin 8 moves'away from the link 89. After rubbish or the like is placed in the hopper door 3-4, the handle 48 is lowered to return it to neutral position, at which time both doors are closed, confining the rubbish within the intervening space. Continued downward movement of the handle -38 by the operator carries it to the lower position as shown in Fig, 3. This rotates the cam plate 46 in a counterclockwise direction, at which time the lower end of the slot 56 engages the bolt 8i thereby lifting the link liland by means of crank arm t t, opening the ba'fiie door 44. Simultaneously, as the handle 58 passes through theneutral position, the pin c l engages thelocking link 8'8 to lift it, thereby disengaging the notch -82 from the shaft SIJ to-permit the'ba'ffledoor 44 to swing open'as described. Afterthe rubbish slides down'the inclined bottom 26 into the chute 23 or receptacle, the handle is merely released and the weight of the baffle door 4 3 causes the'baflie door to close and lock and the handle automatically returns to its neutral'position. During the movement of the handle 48 from the neutral position of Fig. 1 to the lower position of Fig.3, the lost motion connection of slot -5 and bolt '58 allows this without movement of hopper door'34, which is held closed by the spring 74 to prevent back'drafts. The strength of the springltis'adjustedso that'the-weight of the hopper door 34 just keeps the hopper door open when in fully open position whereby an operator, if he'so desires, can use both hands to deposit rubbish or thelike in the hopper. However, once the operator begins to push the handle l'ii'downward from its uppermost position, the strength of the. spring l4 will overcomethe lesser leverage weight of the hopper door and the handle will automatically return to its neutral position and the hopper door will-automatically complete its closing.

It will berecognized 'fIOIll'thG above description that the objects of the invention havebeen achieved by providing a double door closure having a simple but effective interlocking mechanism which is inexpensive and durable, and whichinsures that the inner door will be closedand locked whenever the hopper door is opened.

While in accordance with the patentstatutes, one-best known embodiment of my invention has been described herein, it isto be specifically understood that I am not to be limited thereto or thereby, but'that the scope of my inventiorris defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. An intakedoor for rubbish chute orthe like comprising a rectangular frame adapted .to be mounted in association with the side of the chute, a rectangular hood secured to the inner-edge of the top and sides of the frame and extending to the chute,'a bottom secured to the lower edge of the-frame sloping inwardly and downwardly into the'chute, a hopper-door hingedly secured in the frame alongt'he lower edge thereof,-a baflle door hingedly secured along its upper edge to the hood in spaced-apart relation to the hopper door, manually operated means for operatively interlocking the doors including a circular cam plate rotatably supported on a shaft through its center, said cam plate having arcuate slots in diametrically op posed relationship adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, a handle secured to the cam plate for manually rotating the cam plate, a crank arm secured to the hopper door, a link pivotally secured to the crank arm at one end and slidably engaging one cam plate slot at the other end, a second crank arm secured to the baffle door, a second link pivotall secured to a second crank arm at one end and slidably engaging the second cam plate slot at the other end, a spring secured to the hopper door and anchored to the frame for urging the door into closed position, a locking link pivotally secured to the second crank arm, said link having a notch releasably engaging the cam plate shaft when the baffle door is in closed position, and a pin adjacent the peripheral edge of the cam plate and secured thereto adapted to engage and move the locking link automatically when the cam plate is rotated in a direction to open the baffie door to thereby disengage the notch from the shaft.

2. A double door closure of the type described comprising two doors hingedly supported in spaced-apart relationship, an enclosing frame in association with the two doors adapted to form a closed passage between the doors, an interlocking closure assembly which permits only one door to be opened at a time including a plate rotatably secured to the frame, means for rotating the plate, crank means operatively associated with each door and engaging said plate whereby rotation of the plate in one direction opens one door and rotation in the opposite direction opens the other door, a locking link pivotally carried by one of said crank means, and a pin on said plate for engaging said locking link to lock one door in closed position and being disengageable automatically by movement of said plate in one direction.

3. An intake door assembly for a rubbish. chute or the like and including a box-like hood, a bailie door hinged along its upper edge adjacent the top and back of the hood, a closure door hinged along its bottom edge adjacent the bottom and front of the hood, a crank arm secured to the baifle door, a crank arm secured to the closure door, both crank arms being positioned to the side of the hood, a single operating lever extending beyond the front of the closure door and positioned to the side of the hood between the crank arms, oppositely-acting, lost-motion connections between each crank arm and the lever, resilient means holding one door closed when its lostmotion connection is operating, and locking linkage controlled by the lever for holding the other door closed when its lost-motion connection is operating.

4. An intake door for a rubbish chute, or the like comprising a frame, a hopper door hingedly secured in the frame along the lower edge thereof, a bafiie door hingedly secured along its upper edge to the hood in spaced-apart relation to the hopper door, manually operated means for operatively interlocking the doors including a circular cam plate, a shaft rotatably supporting said cam plate on said frame, said cam plate having arcuate slots in diametrically opposed relationship adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, a handle secured to the cam plate for manually rotating the cam plate, a crank arm secured to the hopper door, a link pivotally secured to the crank arm at one end and slidably engaging one cam plate slot at the other end, a second crank arm secured to the baffle door, a second link pi-votally secured to a second crank arm at one end and slidably engaging the second cam plate slot at the other end, pin means carried by said cam plate, and a locking link pivotally associated with said second crank arm and having a locking notch therein engageable with said shaft for continuously engaging said shaft when said hopper door is open whereby the bafile door is locked in closed position when the cam plate is rotated to open the hopper door, said pin means being positioned at the top of said cam plate when it is at a neutral position with both said doors closed, said pin means disengaging said locking link and shaft with initial n1ovement of said cam plate for opening said bailie door.

5. Door operating mechanism and the like including a circular cam plate rotatably supported on a shaft through its center, the cam plate having arcuate slots in opposed relationship adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, a handle secured to the cam plate for manually rotating the cam plate, a pivotally mounted crank arm, a link pivotally secured to the crank arm at one end and slidably engaging one cam plate slot at the other end, a second pivotally mounted crank arm, a second link pivotally secured to the second crank arm at one end and slidably engaging the second cam plate slot at the other end, a spring secured to one crank arm for holding it resiliently in one direction, and locking means operatively associated with the other crank arm and releasably engaging the cam plate whereby the second crank arm is locked in one position when the cam plate is rotated to move the other crank arm against the action of the spring, the locking means being automatically released when the cam plate is rotated in the opposite direction.

CLARENCE M. WILKINSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

